Article roll-over device

ABSTRACT

A coil of metal or paper strip to be upended or downended is placed on one bed of a cradle which is constructed of semicircular vertical parallel plates and which is mounted in rolling engagement on a track beneath the cradle. The cradle is then rolled along the track one-quarter turn or 90* by a drive system to axially reorient and laterally transfer the coil. The drive system includes a combination of pivotally interconnected levers which are actuated by a hydraulic cylinder. As the cradle reaches its end point, the upended or downended coil then rests on a second bed of the cradle perpendicular to the initial bed.

United States Patent [191- Ouska Mar. 5, 1974 [54] ARTICLE ROLL-OVER DEVICE 3,011,657 12/1961 Schutze et al. 214/4632 X [76] Inventor: Ralph C. Ouska, 218v E. The Ln.,

Hinsdaie, I. 60521 Primary Exammer-Frank E. Werner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John F. Verhoeven; C. E. [22] Filed: May 11, 1972 Tripp [21] Appl. No.: 252,177

Related US. Application Data L 1 f 1 ABSTRACT b d d 62 CO] 0 meta or paper strip to e upen ed or ow- 1 Dmslon of Ser No 122713 March 197] nended is placed on one bed of a cradle which is con- [52] U S 214/1 Q strueted of semicircular vertical parallel plates and [51] In} .0 565g 7/00 which is mounted in rolling engagement on a track be [58] Fie'ld R 130 C neath the cradle. The cradle is then rolled along the 214/148 4632 2 S 198733 track one-quarter turner 90 by a drive syste rn t o ai dally reorient and laterally transfer the coil. The drive [56] References Cited system includes a combination of pivotally intercon- UNITED S ATES PATENTS nected levers which are actuated by a hydraulic cylin- T der. As the cradle reaches its end point, the upended 2,786,588 3/1957 Hill 214/130 C X or downended coil then rests on a secgnd bed of the g f g cradle perpendicular to the initial bed. 0e 3,123,236 3/1964 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Contaldo 214/] Q X PATENTEDHAR 51m SIEUlWS T'II3 l 1 ARTICLE ROLL-OVER DEVICE This application is a division of us. Pat. application Ser. No. 122,713, filed Mar. 10, 1971.

BACKGROUND OFTI-IE INVENTION 'veyor. These coils may weigh sixty thousand pounds or more. Sometimes the coils are carried on end and sometimes on their sides, and frequently the coil has to be turned over either from endto side or from side to end.

To avoid damaging the coiled material, special means for accomplishing this change of position have been employed. One of the most common types of devices used for repositioning a coil or similar object has a pair of beds mounted on a member that rotates on an axis which is fixed in space, at least during rotation, such as shown in the patent to Huffmgton US. Pat. No. 2,880,889. The coil, which is received on one bedin a particular orientation, is upended in place, transferred to the other bed and brought to rest in a different orientation. Sometimes, the coil receiving member can move laterally before or after reorientation of the coil as shown, for example, in the patent to Matteson et al. US. Pat. No. 2,567,819 and, to alimited extent, in the patent to Kratzenberg. US. Pat. No. 2,599,846. The devices which move laterally only before or after coil reorientation require more complicated drive mechanism to impart distinct translational and rotary movement to the coil while the devices which impart only. rotary movement to the coil sacrifice the ability to move the coil laterally. In some of these devices, the need for raising the coil over a pivot center requires that the machines be very large and heavy and have drive systems capable of developing very large torque and horsepower. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved device for upending or downending coils of strip steel and other coiled materials or possibly blocks of material in which there is lateral shifting of the material as well as rotation thereofThe apparatus of this invention includes a cradle constructed of semicircular roll segments'or arcuate segments mounted in rolling engagement on a track which in turn issupported by some form ofsupporting structure. The cradle is rolled along the track by a drive system, which uses pivotally interconnected leversin combination with a hydraulic cylinder. As the piston of the cylinder is extended the levers are pivoted and consequentially roll the cradle along the track from one position'to the'oth er. To return the cradle to its initial position the piston is withdrawn and the cradle is rolled to the starting position.

In operation, a coil of material is placed on an initially horizontal bed or support surface of the cradle, the cradle is rolled through one-quarter turn or 90 along the track and the upended'or downended coil, now resting on the bed or support surface perpendicular to the initially horizontal bed and in a different lateral position, is removed by whatever. means available.

2 The empty cradle is then rolled back to its starting position ready to load another coil.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide coil handling apparatus adapted to receive varying diameter coils with their axes extending in either vertical or horizontal direction, rotate the coils, and transfer them so that their axes will be perpendicular to the initial direction of the axes.

It is another object of this invention to minimize or completely eliminate lifting of the center of gravity of the coil while still retaining a desired translation and thus greatly reduce torque and power requirements.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specifcation taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of the coil roll-over device of the present invention with parts broken away.

. FIG. 2 is a sectional view'onthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are side elevations of the coil rollover device with a hydraulic piston-lever drive system in three operational positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The coil roll-over device 10 (FIGS. 1 to 4) includes a cradle 12, a supporting structure 14, and a drive system 16. The cradle itself is composed of the two rigid, composite, arcuate side frames 18 each of which includes two spaced segments 18a and 1812 which are faces of legs 20a and 20b.

Support plates 30 and 32are secured to, and form a bed or platen on the two support surfaces 20c of legs 20a. Mounted on the two support surfaces 20d (shown in a vertical position in F IG. 1) of the semicircular supporting side frame pairs 18 are two support plates 42,

44, forming a V-top bed for supporting the curved surface of a coil C, as shown in FIG. 1, with its axis A vertical, which may, for example, be strip steel, paper, cable, or other heavy material.

The supporting structure 14 consists of a foundation 46, two spaced elongate track supports 48 and 49 secured to the foundation, and two cradle tracks 50 which are secured to the supports 48 and 49 respectively and provide generally straight metal horizontal surfaces on which the cradle can roll. At each end of the track supports are mounted stop blocks 52, 53, 54 and 55. The stop blocks are formed structurally of steel with an upper surface of shock cushioning material to act as an abutment for the cradle in the loading position (FIG. 3) and in the unloading position (FIG. 5).

In the enlarged sectional view FIG. 2, it will be noted that each cradle track 50 has two upwardly projecting portions 50a that define rails to receive depending track sections 51 of the cradle side frames 18a and 18b. A guide bar 56, which extends longitudinally along the 3 track 50 is secured in a slot 57 in the track by capscrews 56a and is straddled by the frame members 18a and 18b to prevent shifting or sidewise creeping of the cradle off the track.

The outer edges of the side frame members 18a and 18b and the outer edge portions of the cradle tracks 50 (FIG. 2) form grooves 58a and 59a which receive cradle restraints 58 and 59. The cradle restraints 58 and 59, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are flexible members such as chains, as illustrated, or cables which prevent torsional creep of the cradle with respect to the cradle track during the roll-over operation or resist such creep resulting from coil shock when transferring coils into and out of the cradle. The cradle restraint 59 is associated with the cradle frame segment 18b and is attached to a cradle restraint takeup 62 (FIG. 1) which in turn is attached to the stop blocks 52, 54. The other end of the cradle restraint59 is attached to a plate 60 which extends transversely across the ends of the semicircular supporting side frame sections 18a and 18b. The cradle restraint 58 is attached first to a cradle restraint takeup 63 which in turn is'attached to the stop blocks 53, 55.'The otherend' of the cradle restraint58 is attached to a plate 61 which extends between the members 18a and 18b. The chain 58 rests in the groove 58a as shown in FIG. 2, and the chain 59 rests in the groove 59a. The restraint chains 58 and 59 associated with the cradle that rolls on track support 48 are also connected respectively between a cradle restraint takeup 63 and a transverse plate 61 (FIG. 1), and between a cradle restraint takeup 62 and a transverse plate 60. As the cradle moves toward the right, tension on the two outside chains 58 keeps the cradle from sliding or creeping to the left while it is rolling or while it is stationary but under impact loadings. And similarly, tension onthe two inner chains 59 restrains the cradle from creeping to the right.

The drive system utilized is a hydraulic cylinder and lever drive as illustrated in the sequence of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 3 the drive system includes a pivot shaft 188 connected to the cradle 12 The outer end of the pivot shaft 188 is journaled for rotation in the upper end of the cradle link 190. The cradlelink 190 is connected for rotation at its lower end (FIG; 3) to drive, or bell crank, lever 192. The drive lever is pivotally connected and journaledfor rotation on a pivot shaft 193 which is connected to the track support 49.. The lower end of thedrive lever 192 is pivotally connected to the piston 196 of the double acting hydraulic'cylinder 197. The opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder 197 is connected for pivotal movement in a trunion 198 that is attached to the foundation. This drive system consisting of interconnected lever arms anda pivotally.

mounted hydraulic cylinder can be-mounted on either side of the .cradle or in the open center of the cradle beits pivot point 193, and, as a consequence, rolling the cradle clockwise and to the right along its tracks as shown in the sequence of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. As the cradle nears the endof 90 of rotation, limit switchestnot shown) are tripped and further extension of the piston 196 of the hydraulic cylinder 197 is discontinued. A brake (not shown) is applied and the cradle is then unloaded as the coil, which has had its axis revolved through 90, is removed by conveyor, crane, or by other means. The brake is released and pressure is then applied to the double acting hydraulic cylinder 197 in a direction opposite that of the original pressure application and the piston of the cylinder is withdrawn to the right to rotate the drive lever 192 in a counterclockwise direction andto rotate and shift the cradle in turn 90 from its position as shown in FIG. 5 to the initial position of FIG. 3. Limit switches are again activated and further withdrawal of the piston into the hydraulic cylinder is stopped. A brake is then applied holding the cradle in the position with platen 30, 32 oriented horizontally.

The bed 30, 32, when in the horizontal position, (FIG. 3) is spaced below the center CR of the circular arc defined by surface 202 of the arcuate segments of the cradle a distance D equal to the distance from the bottom of the coil to the center of gravity G of the coil (a distance equal generally to about one-half the height H of the coil). Similarly, the bed 42,44, when in the horizontal position (FIG. 5), is spaced below the center CR of the arc of the arcuate segments of the cradle a distance S equal to or greater than the distance from the side of the coil to the center of gravity of the coil. With this construction the center of gravity G of the coil C when-upright will initially lie at the center CR of the circular arc of the arcuate segments. Thus as the cradle is rolled, the center of gravity of the coil will not have to be raised, but will be moved laterally as'the cradle rolls.

When the cradle is in the final position (FIG. 5), the center of gravity of the coil is at (as shown) or below the center'of the circular arc of the arcuate segments. If the coil should have a diameter closely approximating the height of the coil as shown, the center of gravity of the coil will remain at or near the moving center CR as the cradle'rolls. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the case of a coil having equal height and diameter. As the cradle rolls the center of gravity G of the coil C coincides with a line L along which the center CR of the circular arc of the arcuate segments moves throughout the entire downending operation.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made'without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An article roll-over device comprising, in combination, a cradle having two adjacent ang'ularly spaced beds'to support an article, said cradle having an edge support surface defining a semi-circular arc, the center of said are lying substantially above and between said beds to hold the article with the center of gravity of the article close to the center of 'said arc, supporting means including a horizontal track to receive the arcuate edge support surface of the cradle forrolling movement, and a drive mechanism including a power cylinder pivotally attached to a fixed support and having a piston and a piston rod, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and connected at one end to the piston rod, and a link connected between the other end of the bell crank lever and the cradle, said drive mechanism rolling said cradle as the power cylinder is operated from a firstposition with one bed in a substantially horizontal position to support the article to a second position with the other bed in a substantially horizontal position to support the article, said horizontal positions of the beds below the center of said semi-circular arc to maintain the center of gravity of the article in sub stantially the same plane as the cradle rolls on said track. v

2. An article roll-over device comprising in combination, a cradle having two angularly spaced'beds secured in fixed relation to the cradle to support an article, said cradle further having an arcuate edge support surface, said beds located below the center of curvature of the dle thereon, and a drive mechanism including a hydraulic power cylinder having a piston and piston rod and i is pivotally connected between the cradle and the bell arcuate edge support surface to hold the article with the center of gravity thereof close to the center of cur.-

vature of the arcuate edge support surface, supporting means including track means to receive the arcuate edge support surface for rocking movement of the cracrank lever.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 in which the hydraulic cylinder and the bell crank lever are pivotally connected to a fixed support. 

1. An article roll-over device comprising, in combination, a cradle having two adjacent angularly spaced beds to support an article, said cradle having an edge support surface defining a semi-circular arc, the center of said arc lying substantially above and between said beds to hold the article with the center of gravity of the article close to the center of said arc, supporting means including a horizontal track to receive the arcuate edge support surface of the cradle for rolling movement, and a drive mechanism including a power cylinder pivotally attached to a fixed support and having a piston and a piston rod, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and connected at one end to the piston rod, and a link connected between the other end of the bell crank lever and the cradle, said drive mechanism rolling said cradle as the power cylinder is operated from a first position with one bed in a substantially horizontal position to support the article to a second position with the other bed in a substantially horizontal position to support the article, said horizontal positions of the beds below the center of said semi-circular arc to maintain the center of gravity of the article in substantially the same plane as the cradle rolls on said track.
 2. An article roll-over device comprising in combination, a cradle having two angularly spaced beds secured in fixed relation to the cradle to support an article, said cradle further having an arcuate edge support surface, said beds located below the center of curvature of the arcuate edge support surface to hold the article with the center of gravity thereof clOse to the center of curvature of the arcuate edge support surface, supporting means including track means to receive the arcuate edge support surface for rocking movement of the cradle thereon, and a drive mechanism including a hydraulic power cylinder having a piston and piston rod and including a linkage system connecting the piston rod to said cradle for rocking the cradle on the track means to simultaneously axially reorient and laterally transfer the article from a position on one bed to a second position on the other bed with a minimum change in the center of gravity of the article as the cradle rocks on said track means, said linkage system including a bell crank lever pivotally connected at one end to the piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder.
 3. The mechanism of claim 2 in which a cradle link is pivotally connected between the cradle and the bell crank lever.
 4. The mechanism of claim 3 in which the hydraulic cylinder and the bell crank lever are pivotally connected to a fixed support. 